U.S. patent application number 16/961891 was filed with the patent office on 2020-11-26 for electronic lock with slot antenna.
The applicant listed for this patent is ASSA ABLOY AB. Invention is credited to Par BERGLUND, Mats CEDERBLAD, Tomas JONSSON, Peter KJELLQVIST.
Application Number | 20200372737 16/961891 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005047498 |
Filed Date | 2020-11-26 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200372737 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
JONSSON; Tomas ; et
al. |
November 26, 2020 |
ELECTRONIC LOCK WITH SLOT ANTENNA
Abstract
It is provided an electronic lock for selectively locking a
barrier to a surrounding structure. The electronic lock comprises:
a locking bolt, a housing comprising metallic material, wherein the
housing comprises a through-hole through which the locking bolt can
pass; and a wireless communication module. The housing comprises a
cut-out forming a slot antenna, wherein the wireless communication
module is connected to the housing and thus the slot antenna. The
slot antenna is formed on the same surface of the housing through
which the locking bolt can pass.
Inventors: |
JONSSON; Tomas; (Ronninge,
SE) ; CEDERBLAD; Mats; (Hasselby, SE) ;
KJELLQVIST; Peter; (Molnbo, SE) ; BERGLUND; Par;
(Vallentuna, SE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ASSA ABLOY AB |
Stockholm |
|
SE |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005047498 |
Appl. No.: |
16/961891 |
Filed: |
December 18, 2018 |
PCT Filed: |
December 18, 2018 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2018/085616 |
371 Date: |
July 13, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07C 9/00944 20130101;
G07C 9/00309 20130101; G08C 17/02 20130101; H01Q 13/18 20130101;
H01Q 1/2208 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G07C 9/00 20060101
G07C009/00; G08C 17/02 20060101 G08C017/02; H01Q 13/18 20060101
H01Q013/18; H01Q 1/22 20060101 H01Q001/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 22, 2018 |
EP |
18152786.2 |
Claims
1. An electronic lock for selectively locking a barrier to a
surrounding structure, the electronic lock comprising: a locking
bolt; a housing comprising metallic material, wherein the housing
comprises a through-hole through which the locking bolt can pass;
and a wireless communication module; wherein the housing comprises
a cut-out forming a slot antenna, wherein the wireless
communication module is connected to the housing and thus the slot
antenna; wherein the slot antenna is formed on the same surface of
the housing through which the locking bolt can pass.
2. The electronic lock according to claim 1, wherein the slot
antenna has a meandering shape.
3. The electronic lock according to claim 1, wherein the electronic
lock is configured to have a traditional form factor.
4. The electronic lock according to claim 1, wherein the effective
length of the slot antenna is about a quarter of a wavelength of
radio signals intended to be transmitted or received using the
antenna.
5. The electronic lock according to claim 1, further comprising a
controller provided within the housing.
6. The electronic lock according to claim 1, wherein the wireless
communication module is provided within the housing.
7. The electronic lock according to claim 1, wherein the housing is
provided with a protective cover, at least on the side comprising
the slot antenna.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The invention relates to an electronic lock with a slot
antenna.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Locks and keys are evolving from the traditional pure
mechanical locks. These days, electronic locks are becoming
increasingly common. For electronic locks, electronic keys are used
for authentication of a user. The user credentials (functioning as
electronic keys) and electronic locks can communicate either over a
wireless interface or a conductive interface. Such electronic locks
and keys provide a number of benefits, including improved
flexibility in management of access rights, audit trails, key
management, etc.
[0003] When electronic locks communicate with user credentials over
a wireless interface, the electronic lock needs to have an antenna.
When the electronic lock is provided outside traditional housing,
antennas can be provided with decent radio characteristics, as long
as the lock is not provided e.g. in a metal door. However, such a
solution is expensive, and difficult to install since the form
factor is different than traditional mechanical locks.
[0004] Alternatively, the electronic lock can form part of a
housing with the same form factor as a traditional mechanical lock,
within a traditional housing. However, since the housing is often
made of metal, the antenna is ineffective if provided inside the
housing. Moreover, the electronic lock is often installed inside a
metal door, which would then block radio signals.
[0005] External antennas outside the mechanical housing are
cumbersome and add to cost and complexity.
[0006] JP H07 62940 A discloses a radio type electronic lock. US
2013/0241691 A1 discloses a non-contact electronic door locks
having specialized radio frequency beam formation. GB 2 344 201 A
discloses an apparatus for door entry control and/or door entry
request indication.
SUMMARY
[0007] It is an object to provide an electronic lock with an
antenna for wireless communication which provides a simpler and
more secure installation.
[0008] According to a first aspect, it is provided an electronic
lock for selectively locking a barrier to a surrounding structure.
The electronic lock comprises: a locking bolt, a housing comprising
metallic material, wherein the housing comprises a through-hole
through which the locking bolt can pass; and a wireless
communication module. The housing comprises a cut-out forming a
slot antenna, wherein the wireless communication module is
connected to the housing and thus the slot antenna. The slot
antenna is formed on the same surface of the housing through which
the locking bolt can pass.
[0009] The slot antenna may have a meandering shape.
[0010] The electronic lock may be configured to have a traditional
form factor.
[0011] The effective length of the slot antenna may be about a
quarter of a wavelength of radio signals intended to be transmitted
or received using the antenna.
[0012] The electronic lock may further comprise a controller
provided within the housing.
[0013] The wireless communication module may be provided within the
housing.
[0014] The housing may be provided with a protective cover, at
least on the side comprising the slot antenna.
[0015] Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be
interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical
field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references
to "a/an/the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc." are
to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of
the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc., unless
explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any method disclosed
herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed,
unless explicitly stated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The invention is now described, by way of example, with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an environment in
which embodiments presented herein can be applied;
[0018] FIGS. 2A-B are schematic side views illustrating embodiments
of the electronic lock of FIG. 1; and
[0019] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the
electronic lock of FIG. 1 according to one embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] The invention will now be described more fully hereinafter
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which certain
embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may,
however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be
construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather,
these embodiments are provided by way of example so that this
disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the
scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers
refer to like elements throughout the description.
[0021] Embodiments presented herein are based on the realisation
that instead of providing a separate antenna element for wireless
communication with electronic locks, the antenna function can be
implemented by providing a slot antenna in the housing of the
electronic lock. In this way, the structure and security of
communication is improved, while providing an aesthetically
pleasing design. Additionally, the electronic lock can in this way
be provided within a traditional housing, allowing the electronic
lock to be installed with minimal or no changes to surrounding
structures.
[0022] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an environment in
which embodiments presented herein can be applied. Access to a
physical space 6 is restricted by a physical barrier 5 which is
selectively controlled to be in a locked state or an unlocked
state. The physical barrier 5 can be a door, window, gate, hatch,
cabinet door, drawer, etc., with a handle 3. The physical barrier 5
is provided in a surrounding physical structure 7 (being a wall,
fence, ceiling, floor, etc.) and is provided between the restricted
physical space 6 and an accessible physical space 4. It is to be
noted that the accessible physical space 4 can be a restricted
physical space in itself, but in relation to this physical barrier
5, the accessible physical space 4 is accessible.
[0023] In order to lock or unlock the barrier 5, an electronic lock
1 is provided. It is to be noted that the electronic lock 1 can be
provided in the physical barrier 5 as shown or in the surrounding
structure 7 (not shown).
[0024] Moreover, the electronic lock 1 comprises a user credential
interface 16 for communicating with a user credential 20. The user
credential interface 16 can be implemented using any suitable
wireless interface, e.g. using Bluetooth, BLE, any of the IEEE
802.1 standards, RFID, Near Field Communication (NFC), any of the
IEEE 802.11 standards, wireless USB, etc.
[0025] Optionally, the electronic lock 1 can connect with a gateway
(not shown) to communicate with external entities, such as a
central access control system provided in a remote location. This
can also allow the electronic lock 1 to communicate with a remote
control device (not shown), such as a smart phone, computer etc.
for remote lock management. Using the remote communication, the
electronic lock 1 is remotely controllable, e.g. to allow access
for a particular user credential or to remotely unlock the
electronic lock (e.g. for a tradesman, cleaner, child who have lost
a key, etc.). Also, the remote communication enables event
monitoring, e.g. of unlocking status, locking status, opening,
closing, etc., which can be detected by the sensor device.
[0026] The user credential 20 can be implemented using any suitable
device portable by a user and which can be used for authentication
over the credential interface 16. The user credential 20 is
typically carried or worn by the user and may be implemented as a
mobile phone, a smartphone, a key fob, wearable device, smart phone
case, access card, electronic physical key, etc.
[0027] Using the user credential interface 16, the authenticity of
the user credential 20 can be checked by the electronic lock in an
access control procedure, e.g. using a challenge and response
scheme. The authorisation to open the electronic lock 1 is checked,
either by the electronic lock 1 itself, or by communicating with an
external (local or remote) authorisation device (not shown) to
reach an access decision whether to grant or deny access.
[0028] FIGS. 2A-B are schematic side views illustrating embodiments
of the electronic lock 1 of FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the barrier
is a door and the electronic lock 1 can be seen from the end of the
door, where the electronic lock is provided in the door.
[0029] First, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2A will be
described. The electronic lock 1 comprises a latch bolt 14 which
latches closed when the barrier is pushed closed. The latch bolt 14
can be opened using the handle 3.
[0030] The locking function of the electronic lock 1 is provided
using a locking bolt 13. In other words, the electronic lock 1
comprises a locking bolt 13 to control the locking. Using an access
decision based on communication with a user credential, the
electronic lock 1 determines whether to retract or extend the
locking bolt 13 into the surrounding structure by sending an
appropriate control signal to a motor (see 19 of FIG. 3) connected
to the bolt 13.
[0031] For instance, when the locking bolt 13 is extended and the
access decision is to grant access, the electronic lock 1 sends a
control signal to the motor to retract the locking bolt 13 to
thereby alter the state of the electronic lock 1 from locked to
unlocked. When the locking bolt 13 is retracted and the access
decision is to grant access, electronic lock 1 does not send any
control signal to the electronic lock 1 to retract the locking bolt
13, since the locking bolt 13 is already retracted, i.e. the
electronic lock is already in the unlocked state.
[0032] When the locking bolt is extended and the access decision is
to deny access, the electronic lock 1 does not send any control
signal to the electronic lock 1 to retract the locking bolt 13
since the state of the electronic lock 1 is already in the correct
state, i.e. the locked state.
[0033] The communication with the user credential needs an antenna
to work well. In embodiments presented herein the antenna is a slot
antenna 12 which is formed by a cut-out in a housing 10 of the
electronic lock. The housing 10 comprises metallic material, and
can for instance be completely formed out of metal to withstand
mechanical external attacks. The housing 10 comprises a
through-hole through which the locking bolt 13 can pass.
[0034] The slot antenna 12 forms part of the housing. In
particular, the slot antenna 12 is formed on the same surface of
the housing 10 through which the locking bolt can pass, i.e. the
same surface of the housing 10 as the through-hole through which
the locking bolt can pass. In this way, the slot antenna is not
exposed when the barrier is closed, since the surface containing
the slot antenna faces a gap between the barrier and surrounding
structure when the barrier is closed. Compared to providing an
external antenna, this is more resistant to tampering, since the
antenna it is much more difficult to sabotage the antenna.
Additionally, the antenna is hidden from view most of the time,
thus providing an aesthetically pleasing design. Furthermore, by
the antenna forming part of the housing, installation is simpler
and production cost is significantly lower compared to an external
antenna. No additional weakening of the door due to the absence of
extra holes for connecting an external antenna. Also, using the
traditional form factor allows the electronic lock to be installed
in structures (e.g. doors) made for traditional mechanical locks,
allowing reuse of known building systems.
[0035] When BLE is used for communication, the 2.4 GHz frequency
band is used, corresponding to a wavelength of 12.5 cm. The slot
antenna can be about (within 3 mm or 1 mm of) a quarter of a
wavelength long, i.e. 3.125 cm, which is a reasonable length to
provide as a slot antenna in the housing.
[0036] Looking now to the embodiment of FIG. 2B, this is similar to
the embodiment of FIG. 2A, and only differences will be mentioned
here. In the embodiment of FIG. 2B, the slot antenna 12 has a
meandering shape, to support larger wavelengths compared to a
straight slot antenna.
[0037] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the
electronic lock of FIG. 1 according to one embodiment.
[0038] Here, a fitting 23 for the handle can be seen, which is
mechanically coupled to the latch bolt 14. Moreover, internal
components of the electronic lock 1 are schematically shown. A
controller 30 is shown which controls the operation of the
electronic lock 1. The controller 30 can be hardware based, e.g.
using an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field
Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), and/or discrete components.
Alternatively or additionally, the controller 30 is software based,
comprising a processor using any combination of one or more of a
suitable central processing unit (CPU), microcontroller, digital
signal processor (DSP), etc., capable of executing software
instructions stored in a memory 32 accessible to the controller 30.
The memory 32 can also store data, such as access control data used
when evaluating whether a user credential is to gain access or
not.
[0039] A wireless communication module 11 is connected to the
controller 30 and comprises digital and analogue components for
receiving data or transmitting data using the slot antenna 12.
[0040] The wireless communication module 11 is connected to two
connection points 22a-b provided on the housing 10, to thereby
utilise the slot antenna 12 for communication with external
entities such as a user credential and/or a communication
gateway.
[0041] Optionally, several of the mentioned components are combined
in a single physical component.
[0042] The controller 30 is also connected to a motor 19 for
extending or retracting the locking bolt 13.
[0043] The slot antenna 12 is directed towards a gap between the
barrier and surrounding structure when the barrier is closed. In
this way, communication to/from the antenna 12 can pass through the
gap between the barrier 5 and the surrounding structure, even when
the barrier is closed. This allows communication to occur
efficiently, even in situations when one or both of the physical
barrier 5 and the surrounding structure is made partly or
completely of metal for increased security of the barrier per
se.
[0044] The controller 30 is provided within the housing 10 and the
wireless communication module 11 is provided within the housing.
This increases the ability to withstand physical attacks to the
controller 30 and/or wireless communication module 11. Furthermore,
the housing 10 can be provided with a protective cover, at least on
the side comprising the slot antenna 12. The protective cover can
be a layer of protective material applied over the housing and over
the slot antenna can e.g. be made of an epoxy material or other
hard polymer. The protective covering prevents dust from entering
the housing and also makes a physical attack to the electronic lock
more difficult.
[0045] Here now follows a list of embodiments from another
perspective, enumerated with roman numerals.
i. An electronic lock for selectively locking a barrier to a
surrounding structure, the electronic lock comprising: [0046] a
housing comprising metallic material; and [0047] a wireless
communication module; [0048] wherein the housing comprises a
cut-out forming a slot antenna, wherein the wireless communication
module is connected to the housing and thus the slot antenna. ii.
The electronic lock according to embodiment i, wherein the slot
antenna has a meandering shape. iii. The electronic lock according
to embodiment i or ii, wherein the slot antenna is directed towards
an intended gap between the barrier and the surrounding structure
when the barrier is closed. iv. The electronic lock according to
any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the electronic lock
is configured to be installed in the barrier. v. The electronic
lock according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the
effective length of the slot antenna is about a quarter of a
wavelength of radio signals intended to be transmitted or received
using the antenna. vi. The electronic lock according to any one of
the preceding embodiments, further comprising a controller provided
within the housing. vii. The electronic lock according to any one
of the preceding embodiments, wherein the wireless communication
module is provided within the housing. viii. The electronic lock
according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the
housing is provided with a protective cover, at least on the side
comprising the slot antenna.
[0049] The invention has mainly been described above with reference
to a few embodiments. However, as is readily appreciated by a
person skilled in the art, other embodiments than the ones
disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the
invention, as defined by the appended patent claims.
* * * * *